{"id":15900,"date":"2019-07-24T11:00:45","date_gmt":"2019-07-24T19:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.palada.net\/index.php\/2019\/07\/24\/news-9645\/"},"modified":"2019-07-24T11:00:45","modified_gmt":"2019-07-24T19:00:45","slug":"news-9645","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.palada.net\/index.php\/2019\/07\/24\/news-9645\/","title":{"rendered":"Even more practical tips for enhanced ergonomics and design for operator interfaces"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Credit to Author: Gregory Bouchery| Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2019 12:00:48 +0000<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-57810 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-1-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-1.jpg 530w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>This article is the last one in a series dedicated to ergonomics of operator interfaces. If you are curious about the reasons why ergonomics is important for your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.schneider-electric.com\/en\/work\/campaign\/smart-machines\/overview.jsp\">machines<\/a> or about the previous tips, you\u2019ll find the previous article part 1 <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/machine-and-process-management\/2019\/06\/26\/practical-tips-for-enhanced-ergonomics-and-design-for-operator-interfaces\/\">here<\/a> and part 2 <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/machine-and-process-management\/2019\/07\/10\/more-practical-tips-for-enhanced-ergonomics-and-design-for-operator-interfaces\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The present content will be focused on a key feature of all operator interfaces : the markings. Indeed, the easiest your markings are to read and understand, the more intuitive your machine will be to use.<\/p>\n<p>The first thing to do is to choose the aesthetics of your markings to increase their readability. For example, you can :<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Choose the colors of your text and background for a better contrast<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_57811\" style=\"width: 338px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-57811\" class=\"wp-image-57811 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"328\" height=\"176\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-2.jpg 328w, https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-2-300x161.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 328px) 100vw, 328px\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-57811\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Using complementary colors for text and background is giving the optimal contrast and the best readability.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Choose the right font &amp; writing policy: at usual label size, avoiding fonts with Serif &amp; all-uppercase wording is increasing readability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_57812\" style=\"width: 179px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-57812\" class=\"wp-image-57812 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"169\" height=\"127\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-57812\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Example of the same marking with and without serif<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Put the legends above the buttons rather than under, to prevent them from being hidden by the operator hand<\/li>\n<li>Keep your aesthetic choice coherent &amp; simple\n<ul>\n<li>It\u2019s best to use less than 4 colors when possible and never more than 8 colors<\/li>\n<li>It may sound obvious, but it\u2019s critical to keep the same rules on the complete panel<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Use easy to understand logos to replace or complement a text :our brain is usually reacting quicker to symbols than to written words and logos are usually easy to understand independently of the operator language.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The second thing to keep in mind is that you have 4 levels of possible markings. Leveraging these 4 levels of markings can help you create a hierarchy of information, which in turn will make your complete control interface easier to understand.<\/p>\n<p>The 4 levels of markings are:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\u00a0Markings directly on the panel: you can use legend panel (i.e. marking stickers) or direct engraving on the machine chassis<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div id=\"attachment_57813\" style=\"width: 517px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-57813\" class=\"size-full wp-image-57813\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"507\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-4.jpg 507w, https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-4-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 507px) 100vw, 507px\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-57813\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Markings on a legend panel<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>2.\u00a0 Marking on labels &amp; legend plates<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_57816\" style=\"width: 244px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-57816\" class=\"size-full wp-image-57816\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-5-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"234\" height=\"139\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-57816\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Marking on legend plates<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>3.\u00a0 Markings on the caps of pushbuttons<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_57818\" style=\"width: 210px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-57818\" class=\"wp-image-57818 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-6-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-6-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-6.jpg 338w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-57818\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Markings on the caps of pushbuttons<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>4. Markings on the bezels of flush mounting pushbuttons<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_57790\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-57790\" class=\"wp-image-57790 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-2-image-1-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-2-image-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-2-image-1.jpg 527w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-57790\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The flat bezels of flush mounting pushbuttons are a nice area to use for markings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Leveraging these areas can help you make intuitive markings, by providing quickly to the operator eyes the most important information. Here are a couple of examples:<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_57819\" style=\"width: 464px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-57819\" class=\"size-full wp-image-57819\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-8.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"454\" height=\"241\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-8.jpg 454w, https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-8-300x159.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 454px) 100vw, 454px\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-57819\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">On the above control interface of an oven, the title written on the legend panel and the logo indicated on the pilot light lens is clearly indicating to the operator that he has an issue related to the oven temperature. Should he need more details, the text on the pushbutton bezel is telling him that it is an overheat issue.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_57820\" style=\"width: 343px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-57820\" class=\"size-full wp-image-57820\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"333\" height=\"334\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-9.jpg 333w, https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-9-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-9-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-9-125x125.jpg 125w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 333px) 100vw, 333px\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-57820\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">When writing on the legend panels, you can regroup your texts and avoid repetition. The less text there is to read, the more intuitive your interface will be.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Another way to use this 4 possible markings is to create a bilingual interface. This can be useful for exporting machine manufacturers or for machines used in bilingual regions, like the southern states of the United States where more and more operators appreciate interfaces in Spanish on top of English.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_57821\" style=\"width: 197px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-57821\" class=\"size-full wp-image-57821\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Article-3-image-10.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"187\" height=\"180\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-57821\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The above flush mounting pushbutton is leveraging markings on the caps &amp; on the bezel to propose a Chinese \/ English indication to change the speed of a conveyor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-57804 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Article-1-image-7-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Article-1-image-7-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Article-1-image-7-151x152.jpg 151w, https:\/\/blog.se.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Article-1-image-7-125x125.jpg 125w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>Discover more tips in our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.schneider-electric.com\/en\/download\/document\/998-20455723_GMA-US\/\">\u201cBuilding efficient operator workstations\u201d brochure<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Or begin using our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.schneider-electric.com\/en\/work\/products\/product-launch\/harmony-control-signaling\/#xtor=CS4-314-[Print]---\">Product Selector &amp; Customization tool<\/a>\u00a0to design your control interface.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to share your own trick and tips, don\u2019t hesitate to use the comments.<\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/machine-and-process-management\/2019\/07\/24\/even-more-practical-tips-for-enhanced-ergonomics-and-design-for-operator-interfaces\/\">Even more practical tips for enhanced ergonomics and design for operator interfaces<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\">Schneider Electric Blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/machine-and-process-management\/2019\/07\/24\/even-more-practical-tips-for-enhanced-ergonomics-and-design-for-operator-interfaces\/\" target=\"bwo\" >http:\/\/blog.schneider-electric.com\/feed\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Credit to Author: Gregory Bouchery| Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2019 12:00:48 +0000<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This article is the last one in a series dedicated to ergonomics of operator interfaces. If you are curious about the reasons why ergonomics is important for your machines or&#8230;  <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/machine-and-process-management\/2019\/07\/24\/even-more-practical-tips-for-enhanced-ergonomics-and-design-for-operator-interfaces\/\" title=\"ReadEven more practical tips for enhanced ergonomics and design for operator interfaces\">Read more &#187;<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\/machine-and-process-management\/2019\/07\/24\/even-more-practical-tips-for-enhanced-ergonomics-and-design-for-operator-interfaces\/\">Even more practical tips for enhanced ergonomics and design for operator interfaces<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.se.com\">Schneider Electric Blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[12389,12388],"tags":[22228,12539,13119,12508,13060,22117,22444,12693,18042],"class_list":["post-15900","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-scadaics","category-schneider","tag-control-panel-ergonomics","tag-food-and-beverage","tag-hmi","tag-machine-and-process-management","tag-machine-safety","tag-operator-interfaces","tag-operator-workstation","tag-push-buttons","tag-switches"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.palada.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15900","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.palada.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.palada.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.palada.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.palada.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15900"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.palada.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15900\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.palada.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15900"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.palada.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15900"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.palada.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15900"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}